Most people have 20 baby teeth, and 32 permanent adult teeth. However, a condition called hyperdontia can cause too many teeth to grow inside the mouth. This is usually more common in kids but can also occur into adulthood. Hyperdontia can be treated by your dentist in Tuscaloosa, but sometimes no treatment is needed.
Signs of Hyperdontia
The obvious sign of hyperdontia is seeing or feeling extra teeth erupt behind your already established teeth. If extra teeth have already erupted, then it’s pretty easy to diagnose. Your dentist in Tuscaloosa may also be able to see additional teeth that haven’t yet shown themselves in dental x-rays images. While the condition isn’t typically painful, it can put a bit of pressure on the jaw and gums. Hyperdontia can also cause overcrowding and make teeth appear crooked.
Types of Additional Teeth
Additional teeth can vary in shape and can erupt in various places in your mouth.
Shapes
- Supplemental – an extra tooth that is similarly shaped to the neighboring tooth
- Tuberculate – a tube-like shape
- Compound odontoma – looks like the tooth is made from several growths
- Complex odontoma – a growth of tooth-like tissue
- Conical – wide at the bottom and narrows out the top
Locations
- Paramolar – occurs in the back of the mouth by the molars
- Distomolar – grows in line with the molars rather than behind them
- Mesiodens – appears behind front flat teeth (incisors) and is the most common
What Causes Extra Teeth to Develop?
There is no known cause of hyperdontia, but there have been links between extra teeth and a few inherited conditions, such as:
- Cleft palate or lip
- Gardner’s syndrome
- Ehler-Danlos syndrome
- Fabry disease
- Cleidocranial dysplasia
Make sure to talk with your dentist in Tuscaloosa about all your health conditions as well as your family medical history so they can cater your dental care to your specific needs.
Treating Hyperdontia
Typical treatment for hyperdontia involves removing the extra teeth. If your dentist does recommend treating hyperdontia, it’s for a good reason. Some things that may require extra teeth to be removed include:
- Difficulty chewing
- Pain
- Cuts in your mouth
- Inability to brush and floss your teeth
- Feeling self-conscious
Extra teeth can seem like a real burden, but oftentimes they don’t cause any issues. However, if you have extra teeth and you don’t like the way your smile looks, talk with your dentist in Tuscaloosa about the best way to treat your extra teeth and perhaps discuss some forms of cosmetic dentistry.
